Hello Members,
Work Party: Saturday, September 2 from 7:30 – 9:30 am: Get your Community Service hours completed early. Don’t wait until the end of the year and we need your help now! All members must have 2 hours (of the 4) completed by December 31, 2023. As a reminder, the work party is the first Saturday of each month and the garden is CLOSED during that time and only participants are allowed in the garden until 9:30 am. If interested, please sign up by responding to this email so we can plan accordingly.
Trash: If the trash cans are full, please don’t fill a wheelbarrow and leave it in front or side of the dumpster. The cans are full this time of year. Don’t put anything in the dumpster that sticks over the edge. Cut up everything. Please leave trash in the plot until cans are empty. NO EXCEPTIONS
Orchard Work Parties: The Orchard work parties are usually every Tuesday from 5 to 7 and are by appointment only by signing up at the Gazebo. Also, individual appointments are available by contacting Alan Coles at: lbcg.orchard@gmail.com. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Fall is coming: Hard to believe but Fall is just around the corner. Therefore, it is time to begin to clean plots of dying, rotted plants and vegetables. Old overgrown plants are a perfect harbor for critters to hide under and develop nests (also under composter and storage bins). Begin trimming and even removing plants. Depending on the weather, you can start planting some winter crops, end of September. The deadline for full winter planting is November 15 along with removal of tomatoes, eggplants and peppers to reduce spread of disease – no exceptions.
Safety Issues with Ability First
Ability First is a non-profit organization that helps people with special needs have a meaningful life. We are glad that our garden is part of their local program. Their plot A-12 is located across from the orchard. The van used to transport their members opens on the passenger side which is the side exposed to traffic. They generally need assistance from attendants to enter and exit the vehicle. Some drivers have been observed driving dangerously fast when the van is being loaded and unloaded. For their safety the attendants will now place a “STOP” sign in the middle of the road. Drivers will be required to wait until all occupants have entered or left the vehicle before being allowed to continue.
Safety of our members is our highest priority. Please drive carefully and observe the speed limit of 5 mph. Violators may lose membership privileges.
Dirt Pile: Do not add DIRT to the manure corners! Extra dirt removed from your plot goes into the DIRT PILE on the southwest side of the garden. You can take dirt or leave dirt from plot Q-14, clearly marked with signage. If you are making raised beds, consider using dirt from the Dirt Pile and amend it. Dirt is dirt – it’s what you put into it and how you care for the dirt that makes it fertile.
Garden Share Area: – Also in the SW Corner Behind the Manure/Next to Dirt Plot. You can take materials left there or you can leave USEFUL materials you no longer want. Do not leave junk, like sticks, rusty fencing, etc. — discard any junky items. Many gardeners leave their tomato cages there where they will be available for anyone to take.
The other 3 corners of the garden are to be only used for administrative uses such as wheelbarrow parts, border boards, food bank items, etc. Do not leave or take items from these locations as they are used by the garden board for maintenance.
Garden Reviews: All plots will be reviewed the first week of every month with a 2nd review mid month. Please be sure your plot is in compliance and dig out all weeds in the plot and pathways and be sure that there is no overgrowth of plants outside of your plot borders.
Current plot issues:
- Plants growing into pathways
- Weedy plots and pathways
Fences and Raised Beds: As a reminder, any member putting in a fence or beds, you need to draw up plans for the board to OK before installing. Please send plans to info@lbcg.org
Board Meeting: Next Board meeting is held on October 2nd, 2023 by Zoom from 6:30 – 7:30pm. Garden members who are interested should contact the President or email us at info@lbcg.org to receive an invitation to the meeting.
Happy Gardening!
Greg Marcotte